everywhere that this is the memorial day unlike any other. across the country, eager crowds taking advantage of the unofficial start to summer, prompting stern warnings from health officials but tonight, a solum memorial at day as america approaches a grim arlington national cemetery where the president milestone. spent part of his day, there were no crowds, instead solum massive crowds at and beaches, packed pool parties socially distant and protests as americans mark the tributes to those who made the holiday ultimate sacrifice. during the coronavirus we have it all covered pandemic and begin many ignoring social distancing with nbc's miguel almaguer. as the u.s. death toll nears >> reporter: as 100,000 and the americans mark leap of faith with memorial day, crowds more churches reopening. gathered across the country, a how are they keeping worshippers troubling safe also, president celebration during a trump paying tribute at arlington national national health crisis. cemetery and his trip to the golf course and at lakes of the ozarks lashing out to in missouri, little his critics among joe biden. what biden said today social distancing and few appearing were wears in public for the first time in masks. two months. this waterfront community now the new travel ban the center of outrage for after a travelers from brazil. party during a pandemic >> my buddy said i heard it's hospital. packed let's check it out the new we walked through a surveillance, the crowd, go upstairs and look over college student suspected in two to the pool, absolutely packed. >> reporter: as a

restless the somber nation battles tributes this quarantine fatigue, more states are easing memorial day, parades restrictions but for down empty some, it came too fast. streets as this year >> this is truly the we also wild west. honor many veterans it went from kind of a lost to covid-19 lockdown to just total chaos. back in the game, is the nba >> reporter: the close to restarting resort town of lake geneva, wisconsin the season flooded the moving moment by visitors after the caught on state's one family's ring cam supre ru down stay inspiring at home restrictions. america. and america's >> we had to literally return to close our space, let the countdown to doors and stop letting history begin. people in >> announcer: this is the building several different times. >> reporter: on some "nbc nightly news" with of the most lester holt. iconic beaches in southern good evening california, memorial day is i'm kristen welker in always drawn a crowd, tonight but this for lester year, you must wear a mask, a s rule hardly enforced and rarely being followed there is also rebellion in texas in spite of the governor's order, this water park opened long lines, no spacing, no masks. the large groups openly defying local mandates to new jersey protesters, many shoulder to shoulder without masks believe the coronavirus lockdown is

killing the economy. >> this is a sham of a hoax it's got nothing to do with a virus or safety. it's got everything to do with control. >> reporter: there are reasons for concern at this great clips in missouri, two hair stylists worked while sick, now at least 140 clients have been exposed to the virus including eric chase. >> all of this because someone wasn't responsible. >> reporter: in alabama today, no holiday for doctors. cases soaring to some 15,000 so far. >> i'm used to taking care of sick patients. i'm used to seeing death in the icu, but the volume of death and not being able to help my patients is just heartbreaking. >> reporter: tonight, as the virus continues to spread, more americans are enjoying their freedom this holiday weekend. freedom they could lose again if they don't follow the rules. miguel almaguer, nbc news, los angeles. president trump spent this memorial day honoring the sacrifices of america's servicemen and women including

those who lost their lives to coronavirus. the president is also facing some new criticism hans nichols is at the white house. >> reporter: president trump marking memorial day at arlington national cemetery with a presidential tradition on an untraditional day. this cemetery still closed to the public because of coronavirus, but the this memorial day tomb of the unknown soldier still is an es guarded. remember the american heroes later at a ceremony at that lost their lives fort mchenry, president serving trump honored this country and from the americans who have covid-19. succumbed to coronavirus. >> as one nation, we >> reporter: for the first time mourn alongside every single in 15 two years a family that has lost loved ones. march down an empty street where thousands >> reporter: and vowed attend one of the nation's victory longest continuously over what he called the held invisible enemy. >> together, we will vanquish the virus. >> reporter: with former vice president joe biden venturing out of his home for the first time in two months, paying his respects to the fallen at a war memorial in delaware wearing a mask, a stark contrast to president trump today.

screen coming on the heels of a political dustup over the weekend with the biden campaign tweeting out a digital ad criticizing the president for golfing during the pandemic the president defending his outing on twitter. i played golf over the weekend. the fake and totally corrupt news makes it sound like a mortal sin and hinting at the next reopening battle, demanding schools in our country should be open asap. most schools have been closed since march and many have cancelled classes for the rest of the year. in a report to congress, the trump administration says it's still relying on the states to expand testing capacity pledging to buy them 100 million more swabs by the end of the year kristen? >> hans nichols reporting from the white house. thank you for that. president trump is also announcing another travel ban this time barring visitors coming to the u.s. from brazil where coronavirus is now spreading faster than anywhere else

our bill neely is there and takes us inside a field hospital on the front lines. >> reporter: soccer's world cup was once played here now a global disease is treated here at a field hospital next to brazil's biggest stadium, one woman's heart has just stopped. she was brought back to life but more than 50 have died here in two weeks. this is one of seven field hospitals going up in rio alone. the problem is, they just can't be built fast enough another wing is ready to open, 200 patients waiting, ambulances arriving doctors have only one word for it. >> crazy it's crazy. >> reporter: now president trump has slapped a travel ban barring any foreigner from entering the u.s. from brazil starting late tuesday. his ally brazil's president joined anti lockdown protesters as the death toll topped 20,000. he took off his mask, hugged children and called for restrictions to end. freedom he said above

all else earlier, he was hackled, killer one woman shouted. in the tightly packed homes of brazil's biggest slum, the virus is on a rampage, lockdown or not. this woman names four friends who died amid this poverty, it's spreading faster in this country than anywhere. almost 1,000 people are now dying here every day, and many doctors have told me they believe brazil is a week or two away from the peak of infection. kristen? >> bill neely, thank you. and back here at home a fierce battle over reopening houses of worship as health experts fear large gatherings could trigger new outbreaks. here is blayne alexander. >> reporter: the separation between church and state is facing a new test as houses of worship nationwide fight to open their doors. in minnesota with malls starting to reopen, some pastors announced plans to do the same in direct defiance of

the state's order. governor tim walls is changing course. >> we have a solid plan that if followed can keep people safe. it was a compromise. >> reporter: in florida, catholic mass will be allowed to resume in miami-dade and broward counties starting tomorrow, and the restrictions end today in cleveland and atlanta as churches prepare to celebrate this sunday. >> we have built a plan to slowly allow people to reenter ou california governor gavin newsom idelinesr churches to reopen in the coming weeks. cdc guidelines recommend limiting shared materials like prayer books or rugs and rather than passing a collection plate, worshippers are encouraged to use a stationary box or online giving in massachusetts, they are taking note. >> there are 45 slots in this church that normally seat 600 for people to come to church, they have to register. >> reporter: for weeks, health officials have traced outbreaks to houses of worship,

that's why many leaders say it's still too soon. >> right now it's truly ir response to open the doors of the church. >> reporter: at cascade methodist church in atlanta, the pastor says this sanctuary could sit empty for months to come. >> we want to make sure any visitor is safe without any opportunity for the coronavirus to spread in the church, that's when we'll come back. >> reporter: blayne alexander, nbc news, atlanta. now to something a lot of us are missing, sports. superstars are teeing up for the return of golf here is sam brock. >> reporter: for >> reporter: for >> reporter: for >> reporter: for sports fans, a sight for the ages. >> a two because that's how we roll. nickelson, tiger, manning, and brady linking up for a charity event before the pga returns. a near split decision by tiger and manning after brady actually did split his pants.

[ laughter ] >> reporter: later tweeting, pants wanted in on social distancing, i guess. the event raising $20 million for covid-19 relief. what is the pga tour doing to ensure everybody will be safe when you return? >> we'll implement a variety of types of screening, some testing, disinfecting and a focus on reducing the number of people required to operate an event. >> reporter: the nba is still working out its testing protocols but now has a target site the espn wide world of sports at disneyworld. the athletic senior nba insider broke the story and says the league is confident about available tests. how many tests that is that's still up in the air. the players, i'm told, are resistant right now to the invasive nasal swab testing that has occurred. >> reporter: any player testing positive would be isolated and quarantined. and nascar g

their windshields each bearing the name of a fallen service member sam brock, nbc news. >> a lot of people cheering the slow return of sports. we will be right back in 60 seconds with the new image just released in the manhunt for a college student and murder suspect. plus, america getting back into the space race.

the fbi joined the urgent manhunt for a college student in connecticut suspected in two murders and tonight, police have released a surveillance image of the suspect. erin mclaughlin has more. >> reporter: tonight a multi state manhunt for a college

senior suspected of killing two. identified as 23-year-old peter manfredonia. authorities released this surveillance image, which they say shows him walking along a train track in east pennsylvania sunday afternoon. >> we know that he is armed and dangerous. if anybody has any information, or if they see this individual, please do not approach him and call 911. >> reporter: the hunt for manfredonia began friday morning in connecticut police allege he attacked two men with an edged weapon killing 62-year-old theodore. >> he was going to be a grandfather for the first time next month. >> reporter: his wife saying the victims had offered manfredonia a ride sunday morning just six miles away, police say another man alleged he held him against his will and then fled with several guns, some food and his truck. >> they have to get him. they have to catch him. he can't get away with this. >> reporter: authorities say he then went to derby, connecticut

where he killed 23-year-old nicolaus police describe the suspect as a 6'3" white male with dishevelled black hair, brown eyes weighing approximately 240 pounds late today, a spokesperson for the family. >> from your parents, we love you. please turn yourself in. >> reporter: erin mclaughlin, nbc news. unlike past memorial days, this year many americans are not traveling, even though gas prices are at the lowest in nearly 20 years and that plunging demand for fuel is leaving some communities just devastated our morgan chesky is in one town reeling from the crisis. >> reporter: in curbing oklahoma, down brings a disaster millions gallons of oil filling every storage tank in sight. >> when the oil price turned red, scariest thing i've seen. >> reporter: from his diner on main street, chris has had a front row seat to oil

busts before. >> to have both of these situations, the virus and oil business hit us all at one time, it's the only way i can describe it as a blood bath. >> reporter: here in oklahoma the pandemic's impact was almost immediate. the very welcome munty they grew up around pulled up oil nobody wanted and more importantly, nobody could sell. off the coast of california, an army of oil tankers have been sitting full for weeks. each one costing $100,000 a day just to wait. >> nobody is driving nobody is flying planes, and everybody is hold up in their house, no vacationers. it should have been obvious that the glut that was already there was going to get worse. >> reporter: now small producers like brett anderson are considering capping wells and walking away forever are you ready to say good-bye >> i think i am. i mean, i don't know what else to do. you can't keep putting money into it.

can't breathe life into a dead worse. >> reporter: gas prices have plunged ahead of summer travel season, and market analysts predict more than a will be cut over the next year adding to historic unemployment. >> if you don't have money, if you don't have an income, it doesn't matter what the gas price is, it's still too high. >> reporter: for communities built around oil, the rising cost of a pandemic taking a devastating toll morgan chesky, nbc news cushing, oklahoma. we could be 48 hours away from history unfolding in space spacex making the final preparations in florida for the first launch of american astronauts from u.s. soil in nearly a decade tom costello has more. >> reporter: on the pad at the kennedy space center america's next generation of space flight a capsule sitting on top of a falcon nine rocket after catching rides on russian rockets for nine years, american astronauts are about

to lift off from american soil on an american rocket. but for the first time in history it's up to a private company to carry two veteran nasa astronauts to the space station. doug hurry and bob. >> we had probably more than any crew has in recent history just in terms of understanding the different scenarios on our plate. >> reporter: spacex has been flying a cargo version of the rocket to the space station for years but this is the first time it will carry humans complicating the mission. the coronavirus has forced half the spacex engineers to work from home. the astronauts taking regular covid tests and isolated. >> we've been in quarantine longer than any space crew has been in the history of the space program. >> reporter: keeping the virus out is a large

concern. >> you run a large chance of all six of us or all five of us getting it it's critical we keep it at 250 miles below us. >> reporter: spacex has suffered setbacks in the past but has racked up a track record of success. founder elon musk tweeting in recent days, super exciting day coming up. open your eyes, look up to the skies. liftoff is set for 4:33 p.m. on wednesday. the mission lasting one to four months depending how it goes. kristen? >> we'll all be watching, tom costello, thank you for that. up next, memorial day tributes to heros we lost then and now. rtlly socially

distant remembrances the order of the day remembering the heros that made the ultimate sacrifice. ♪ >> it's so unusual to be here without the memorial courtyard being packed with people ♪ >> reporter: memorial day even more pointed with the pandemic climbs the lives of so many in long-term care facilities at least 90 honors in massachusetts. nd more this year. >> reporter: a somber holiday with a nation on the verge of 100,000 deaths from covid-19 1,000 names on the front of the "new york times.

an incalculable loss the nation separated and apart on this holiday while coming together to honor and remember those who gave their lives. ron allen, nbc news.

finally tonight, a powerful . . . worker whose have become so critical in this crisis ann thompson with the video inspiring america. >> reporter: in pictures you can see what an adorable 8 month old lucas pearson is what you can't see is the cardiovascular anomaly that puts the idaho child at risk for covid. >> i just wish they understood

how scared we are. >> reporter: the parents are doing everything they can to protect their son including ordering in his supplies, thanking the delivery people who risk their lives to make lucas' possible but through a doorbell camera, they saw a driver monica salinas do something more. >> like my gosh, she's prying. >> reporter: salinas says she just listened to her heart. >> pray they can make it through another day. posted the video generating praise >> reporter: sometimes the most powerful messages need no words ann thompson, nbc news. >> powerful, indeed. that is "nightly news" on this memorial day. we leave your with images from arlington national cemetery thank you for watching and good night.

right now at 6:00, to the beaches and parks, people packed today. making the most of memorial day, without traditional barbecuing or boating. the news rht now. >> memorial day is the like summer outside. record-breaking temperatures in parts of the bay area today. walnut creek, temps in t eas he coast today. and packed beaches made it hard to coach a social distance. let's bring in rod mayeda.

how hot did it get? >> well, it's hot. it's 95 degrees in kentfield, good enough to set a record. and 90 degrees 59 oakland. and sfo. and the record, 1961 and 1975. and good enough to tie a record. walnut creek continues to be hot. 95 degrees. earlier, temperatures at 95. a bit of a breeze but lo a